Control attachment for narrowing mechanism



Feb. '17, 1942. A. F. VERBEEK 7 CONTROL ATTACHMENT FOR NARROWING'MECHANISM Filed March 27, 1959 3 Sheets-She et l Inventor .Arzz 05dEiedm'dz Kerbeelfi i off iy Feb. 17, 1942.

A. F. VERBEEK 2,273,675

CONTROL ATTACHMENT FOR NARROWING MECHANISM Filed March 27, 1939 3Sheets-Sheet 2 7 yum L IlIIHIHIIIHIIHHIHHIHIHIIHII[HIIIIHIHHHIHIIIIIIIHHIIIIHIII Inventor Feb.17, 1942. A. F. VERBEEK 2,273,675

CONTROL ATTACHMENT FOR NARRQWING MECHANISM 1 Filed March 27, 1939 3Sheets-Skeet 3 Inventor firzzoid fljeafzjck i rbeeii Patented Pet. 17,1942 CONTROL ATTACHMENT FOR NARROWING MECHANISM Arnold FriedrichVerbeek, Saxony, Germany, assignor to Kalio, Inc., New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application March 27, 1939, Serial No. 264,441 rIn Germany March 29, 1938 The present invention relates to an attachmentfor flat knitting machines whereby the operative association of thecombs of the narrowing mechanism with the row of needles of the knittingmachine may be selectively and automatically controlled.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a controlattachment for the narrowing mechanism of a full-fashioned hosieryknitting machine, whereby a set of transfer combs may co-function withthe row of needles inde sets of transfer combs Hand I2.

selectively control the operative association of a group ofcombs withthe row of needles of the knitting machine through the action of themain.

will enable the production, in a very efflcient manner, of the knitting,transferring, and herrowing operations necessary in the manufacture ofthe novel type of heel structure disclosed in my co-pending application,Serial Number, 99,830, filed September 8, 1936.

The invention will be better understood from the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the right end portion of the controlattachment, with the parts adjusted to prevent active engagement of oneset of combs with the row of needles;

Figure 2 is a similar view, with'the parts adjusted to allow activeengagement of all of the combs with the row of needles;

1 Figure 3 is a front elevation of the left end portion of thecontrolattachment;

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the left end portion of the controlattachmeiit;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of line 66 of a Figure 3.

' In the drawings, the numerals I, 2, '3, and 4 designate the usualnarrowing bars of the narrowing mechanism of a flat knitting machine,such as a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine. These bars arereciprocated back and forth in the usual manner by the narrowingattachment and lace attachment of the full-fashioned hosiery machine. beof any well known design-for example, they may be the types of mechanismillustrated in United States Patents No. 1,935,406 and No. 2,002,116.

Attached to the bars I and 2 are brackets-5 and 6 to which are attacheda set of narrowing combs l and 8. Attached to the bars 3 and 4 arebrackets 9 and H) to which are attached the Thus there are providedpairs of loop transfer point combs, each pair including an ;outer comb Ior 8 and an inner comb I2 or II. These sets of combs may be operated toornament'a knitted fabric and to narrow the same, but they arepreferably utilized to produce the novel type of heel structure setforth in my co-pending application Serial Number 99,830 hereinbeforeidentified, and

for that purpose, as disclosed in said co-pending application, the combs'I and 8 are adapted to cooperate with knitting needles to transferloops thereon and function to narrow the fabric being knitted thereby,whereas the combs 9 and ID are adapted to cooperate with non-knittingneedles and function to transfer fabric loops supportedthereon forengagement with certain of said knitting needles. Associated with thesets of narrowing combs is a novel type of control mechanism whereby thesets of combs may function together in transferring loops supported uponthe row of needles I3 of the knitting machine, or function independentlyof each other to transfer loops supported upon the row of needles l3which, as disclosed in my copending application aforesaid, is preferablydivided into outer sets A of knitting needles and anlintermediate set Bof non-knitting needles, the outer combs I and 8 being associated withgroups of said sets of knitting needles, and the inner combs I2 and IIbeing associated with groups of said set of non: knitting needles.forms, consists of a pair of shafts l4 and I5 interconnected, asindicated at I6, by a swingingly mounted link ll that is pivotallysupported on a stationary part of the machine and pivotally connected toboth of the shafts, as indicated at I8.

To each of the shafts is attached an actuator I9 known in the knittingart as a knife or covering plate, and these actuators are operativelyThese mechanisms may This mechanism, in one of its associated with theset of narrowing combs, but I wish it to be understood that the same maybe just as readily associated with the set of transfer combs. dependingentirely upon the particular result to be accomplished.

These actuators are provided for the purpose of flexing the points ofthe narrowing combs out of alignment with theneedles l3 under certainpredetermined conditions and to allow the same to align with suchneedles under other conditions. These actuators are operated by a noveltype of control mechanism now to be described.

Secured to one of the shafts is an enlarged disc 20. having anabutting'relation with the curved end 2 l of a lever 22 that has anintermediate portion pivotally connected to a stationary part of theknitting machine, as indicated at 23.

The lower end of the lever has pivotally connected thereto a secondlever 24 which is adapted to be moved into the path of travel of acollar fixed to the main cam shaft 26 in the manner to be hereinafterdescribed.

In the shifting of the main cam shaft, which takes place when anarrowing operation is to be performed, the collar will give movement tothe lever 22 provided the lever 24 has been moved into the path oftravel of the collar 25. Thus the lever 22 is shifted about its pivotand forces the shaft longitudinally in one direction and,

through the link I6, forces the associated shaft in the oppositedirection. This movement of the two shafts in opposite directionsmovesthe actuators into actuating relationship with the set of narrowingcombs I and 8; Due to the fact that the shafts are also mounted upon theknitting machine for partial rotation, the gravitational pressure of theactuators against the points of the set of narrowing combs will flex thesame out of alignment with the needles l3. This gravitational pressuremay be increased by any suitable arrangement of springs or weights.

Associated with the mechanism just described is a cam plate 21 fixed tothe frame 28 of the knitting machine and having its cam surface 29disposed to engage crank arms 30 secured to the shafts when thenarrowing mechanism is in its uppermost inactive position. Therelationship of the crank arms and cam surface 29 is such that the camsurface will swing the crank arms and thereby partially turn the shaftfor relieving the narrowing combs from the pressure of the ,ingfrom arod 33 that is secured to the end of -one of the shafts and this pin 32underlies a second rod 34 fixed to the other shaft. Thus in the upwardmovement of the manipulator the rods 33 and 34 will be contacted and,through these rods, the shafts l4 and I5 are partially turned. Thispartial rotation of the shafts l4 and I5 lifts the actuators l9 to aposition where they will not contact the sinkers.

The manipulator is pivotally connected to a pivoted lever 35 thatcarries a roller 36 co-functioning with an idle cam 31 and an active cam38 mounted on the main cam shaft. Of course, it is to be understood thatthis manipulator may be actuated every time the main cam shaft 26 shiftsfor performing a narrowing operation but, if advisable in practice, thismay be selectively actuated in the manner hereinafter set forth.

Any suitable type of pattern chain control mechanism known inthe trademay be utilized to periodically and selectively set into operation thecontrol mechanism and the manipulating mechanism. For the purpose ofillustration, only a part of such mechanism is shown in the drawings,consisting of the narrowing chain 39, buttons on the chain, drive gear4|, pivoted levers 42 actively associated with the buttons 40, andcontrol rods 43 and 44. The control rod 43 is connected to one arm ofthebell crank lever 45, the other of its arms 46 underlying the lever 24which is arranged for positioning in or out of the path of travel of thecollar 25.

If found advisable in practicing the invention, the movement of theroller 36 into and out of engagement with the actuating cam 38 may setheroller 36 to shift the same on its stub shaft into and out of engagementwith the actuating cam 38. v

Having described my invention, what I claim 1. A control attachment forthe narrowing mechanism of a flat knitting machine including a set ofnarrowing combs, comprising: an actuator for each comb for flexing thepoints thereof out of alignment with the needles of the knittingmachine; a pair of slidably and rotatably mounted shafts connected tosaid actuators; mechanism actuated by a movable part of the knittingmachine for the operation of said shafts to manipulate said actuators; asecond mechanism actuated from a movable part of the knitting machineand operatively associated with said shafts for moving said actuatorsout of operative engagement with the narrowing combs.

2. A control attachment for the narrowingmechanism of a fiat knittingmachine including a set of narrowing combs, comprising: an actuator foreach comb for flexing the points thereof out of alignment with theneedles of the knitting machine; a pair'of slidably androtatably mountedshafts connected to said actuators; mechanism actuated by a movable partof the knitting machine for the operation of said shafts to manipulatesaid actuators; a second mechanism actuated by a movable part of theknitting machine and operatively associated with said shafts. for movingsaid actuators out of operative engagement with the narrowing combs; anda device acting independent of said second mechanism for moving saidactuators out of operative relation with the narrowing combs when thenarrowing mechanism is raised to an inactive position.

3. A control attachment for the narrowing mechanism of a fiat knittingmachine including a set of narrowing combs, comprising: an actuator foreach comb for flexing the points thereof out of alignment with theneedles of the knitting machine; .a pair of slidably and rotatablymounted shafts connected to said actuators; mechanism for the operationof said shafts to manipulate said actuators; a second mechanismoperatively associated with said shafts for moving said actuators out ofoperative engagement mechanism of a flat knitting machine including aset of narrowing combs, comprising: an actuator for each comb forflexing the points thereof out of alignment with the needles of theknitting machine; a pair of slidably and rotatably mounted shaftsconnected to said actuators; mechanism for the operation of said shaftsto manipulate said actuators; a second mechanism operatively associatedwith said shafts for moving said actuators out of operative engagementwith the narrowing combs; a device acting independent of said secondmechanism for moving said actuators out of operative relation with thenarrowing combs when the narrowing mechanism is raised to an inactiveposition; a main cam shaft having means thereon for operating saidmechanisms; and pattern control mechanism selectively controlling theoperation of said two mechanisms by said cam shaft.

5. In a fiat knitting machine: a bank. of needles; pairs of looptransferring combs, each pair including an outer comb and an inner comb,and each comb consisting of transfer points associated with a groupofsaid needles and movable first to engage certain needles of the groupfor removing loops from said certain needles, and then to engage certainother needles of the group for depositing said loops onto said otherneedles; mechanism operable to impart such movement in unison to allofthe combs; and means periodically operable to prevent all the transferpoints of one -comb of each pair from engaging the needles of theassociated group during certain spaced operations of said movementimparting mechanism.

6. In a flat knitting machine: a bank of needles; pairs of looptransferring combs, each pair including an outer comb and an inner comb,and each comb consisting of transfer points associated with a group ofsaid needles and movable first to engage certain needles of the groupfor removing loops from said certain needles, and then to engagecertain-other needles of the group for depositing said loops onto saidother needles; mechanism operable to impart such movement in unison toall of the combs; and means periodically operable to prevent all thetransfer points of the outer comb of each pair from engaging the needlesof the associated group during certain spaced operations of saidmovement imparting mechanism.

'7. In a flat knitting machine having a pattern mechanism and a main camshaft; a bank of needles; pairs of loop transferring combs, each pairincluding an outer comb and an inner comb, and each comb consisting oftransfer points associated with a group of said needles and movablefirst to engage certain needles'of the group for removing loops, fromsaid certain needles, and then to engage certain other needles of thegroup for depositing said loops onto said other needles; mechanismoperable to impart such movement in unison to all of the combs; andperiodically operable means controlled by the pattern mechanism andoperated through 'the main cam shaft of the machine to prevent all thetransfer points of one comb of each pairfrom engaging the needles of theassociated group during certain spaced operations of said movementimparting mechanism. 7

8. In a flat knitting machine having a patternv unison to all of thecombs; and'periodically operable means controlled by the patternmechanism and operated through the main cam shaft of the machine toprevent all the transfer points of the outer comb of each pair 'fromengaging the needles of the associated group during certain spacedoperations of said movement imparting mechanism;

9. In a flat knitting machine: a bank of needles divided into sets ofknitting and non-knitting needles; pairs of loop transfer point combs,each pair including a comb associated with a group of knitting needlesand a comb associated with a group of non-knitting needles. each combbeing movable first to engage certain needles of the associated groupfor removing loops from said certain needles and then to engage certainother needles for depositing said loops onto said other needles;mechanism operable to impart such movement in unison to all the combs;and means periodically operable .to prevent the transfer ciated with agroup of non-knitting needles, each comb being movable first to engagecertain needles of a the associated group for removing loops from saidcertain needles and then to engage certain other needles for depositingsaid loops onto said other needles; mechanism operable to impart suchmovement in unison to all the combs; and periodically operable meanscontrolled by the pattern mechanism and operated through the main camshaft of the machine to prevent the transfer points of the combs of eachpair associated with knitting needles from engaging'the latter duringcertain spaced operations of said movement imparting mechanism.

ARNOLD FRIEDRICH VERBEEK.

